Racer 5 India Pale Ale | Bear Republic Brewing Co.

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Notes / Commercial Description:
This hoppy American IPA is a full bodied beer brewed with American pale and crystal malts, and heavily hopped with Chinook, Cascade, Columbus and Centennial. There's a trophy in every glass.

Pours a clear gold color. One inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of slight piney hops, citrus hops, floral hops, sweet malt, and slight alcohol. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with a low carbonation level. There is a noticeable hop bitterness. Tastes of slight piney hops, citrus hops, floral hops, sweet malt, and slight alcohol. Overall, good blend, body, appearance, and aroma. It has been soooo many years since I have had a Bear Republic ... I've missed you ole buddy.

from 2014. This west coast IPA has a bit of a softer side. Piney, light citrus hops, light amber body with soft head, some lacing. Taste is more citrus than pine, easy on the palate, smooth, sweet and delicious. Not as "in your face" as so mmany other left coast IPAs.

Have been wanting to try this beer for quite a long time and now finally I was able to find it. Although it wasn't a fresh batch anymore, I was absolutely satisfied with it and do agree that it lives up to its fame!
Looks: perfectly rich hazy golden amber. Smells suggest citrus and pine that comes to life richly in its flavor: hop galore. Citruses and mostly pine that dominates with a certain character that makes it distinct and different from the rest. It is very well balanced, no wateriness, no weak spots but not too hardcore either - a perfrct balance of pleasantly drinkable brew all the way, without a flaw. Nomen est omen: a number 5 IPA in overall. This is Racer 5! Go! Go! Go!

12oz bottle, plastic hotel cup, best by 6/28/18 (come on Bear Republic, use a packaged on date!!!).

Racer 5 is the color of honey and has a delicate white head of about a finger. The lacing is nice.

The aroma is sharp, the oily citrus hops are like sharp edges to the olfactory sense. Resin plays around the edges.

Hops and carbonation combine for a biting sip. After that comes the hop assault with orange, grapefruit, and resin as bitterness and malt roll further and further back. The malt is caramel, but savory or rather a bit biscuity, which helps contain that cheap sweetness.

It's the mouthfeel that makes this beer. It is all at once crisp, biting, tangy, and full. There's plenty of carbonation.

When I picked up this six pack and checked just to make sure I'd reviewed this home state brew, I was surprised to see I had not. It's a pleasure to get reacquainted with one of the original great West Coast IPAs.

Yes it is a classic hoppy West Coast IPA, clean and well crafted, but I find it too one-note and overly bitter. As it warms and breathes it certainly mellows out and by the end of a bomber I was appreciating it as a pretty delightfully balanced drink; however, this journey took too long and my senses were probably dulled by that time.
It is alive with juicy, tropical, citrusy, and piney hops and all those notes are great but for the puckering bitterness.

Poured from 12-ounce bottle into a glass goblet. Clear, deep golden color, with a thick white head that left loads of sticky lacing as it settled to a thin ring. Light caramel up front on the aroma, with pine resin and citrus notes. Similar flavor profile, with slight malt sweetness providing structure for the piney and resiny hops. Good carbonation, medium mouthfeel, lots of bitterness lingering on the tongue. My sample may have been slightly past its prime, but still solid and highly drinkable.